Vyapam scam: Congress, AAP up the ante, want SC to monitor probe

NEW DELHI: With two deaths in two days related to the Vyapam scam -one of a TV journalist probing the scandal and the other of a dean of a medical college -Congress and other parties stepped up their attack on the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe into the mysterious deaths of accused and witnesses related to the admission and recruitment scandal.

The ruling BJP, however, rejected the demand, saying the government would abide by any type of probe the SC wants to conduct, but also emphasized that the apex court had turned down Congress' demand for a CBI probe and had expressed satisfaction with the HC-monitored SIT investigation into the matter.

"The SC has expressed satisfaction with HC-monitored SIT probe, then how can the state ask for a CBI inquiry .However, if the SC feels, we are ready for any type of inquiry ," BJP spokesman Anil Baluni said, adding that the SC had rejected Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh's plea for a CBI probe.

Amid public uproar over the journalist's death, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, his colleague Ajay Maken and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal were among several politicians who attended TV journalist Akshay Singh's cremation on Sunday .

AAP, which said that Vya pam was no longer a scam, claimed that it had become a "narsanhar" (massacre) and demanded that the ongoing probe by the SIT should be overseen by the SC.

Rahul said he was "pained" to meet the family members of the journalist. "Pained to meet the mother, father and sister of Akshay Singh. My prayers are with them in this time of terrible grief: Rahul Gandhi," said a tweet on his Twitter handle.

The Centre said a "very fair inquiry" should be conducted to put to rest all doubts over Singh's mysterious death."Since various issues are being raised with respect to the circumstances of this death, it would be absolutely important that a very fair inquiry is held so all doubts can be put to rest," I&B minister Arun Jaitley said. Jaitley said it was a matter of deep sorrow that a "very competent" journalist died while performing his duty .

Home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and asked him to conduct a thorough probe into Singh's death.